Method and system for venting gaseous matter



Feb. 8, 1966 J. GOLDFIELD 3,233,567

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR VENTING GASEOUS MATTER Filed Dec. 7, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. J'oQILPH Gcmnno ATTORNEY Feb. 8, 1966 J. GOLDFIELD 3,233,567

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR VENTING GASEOUS MATTER Filed Dec. 7, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I5 3 .48 i i L i 5 5 '1 I "r INVENTOR. 3' cat? GoumntLu F i .5. g ymw ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,253,567 WTHGD AND FOR VENTING GASEtllUfi MATTER Joseph Goldfield, North Plainiieid, NJL, assigns: to

.lohnsdldanville Corporation, New York, N.Y., a

corporation of New Yer-it Filed Dec. 7, 1962, Ser' No, 243,992 12 Claims. (Cl. nth-18d) This invention relates to the venting of gases to the atmosphere, and more particularly to an improved, economical method of venting exhausted gaseous matter and a novel stack due therefor.

Conveutionally constructed vertical fines or stacks such as the commonly employed metal or brick stacks and chimneys, whether for simply evacuating and venting stale or polluted air or other gaseous matter or for use in conjunction with a furnace or boiler, are exceedingly costly items, particularly when they must reach appreciable heights to avoid contamination, provide adequate draft, etc. wherein their construction requires massive foundations and/ or anchoring means, cranes or extensive scaffolding, and considerable man hours of labor in addition to the costly materials themselves. Moreover, permanent stacks or chimneys require periodic cleaning to remove accumulated materials carried in the gaseous medium to maintain a degree of efiiciency and/or safety which also comprises a costly maintenance operation.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a highly economical but eificient and practical method or means of conveying and exhausting or venting gaseous matter into an area of the atmosphere above adjacent habitation.

It is also a primary object of this invention to provide a low cost, effective and durable or highly corrosive resistant stack for the conveyance and exhausting or vent ing of gaseous matter, and means of erecting and maintaining the same, which is suitable for either permanent installations or particularly adaptable to and useful in temporary installations or with mobile equipment.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter and it is to be understood that the detailed description, which indicates preferred embodiments of the invention, is given by way of illustration only, as variations and modifications within the spirit and scope of this invention will become apparent from the following.

The invention may best be understood by reference to he accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a venting system comprising a flexible stack of one construction of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a pictorial view of another embodiment of the venting means of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the construction of FIG. 2 taken on line 33;

FIG. 4 is a pictorial view, parts being broken away, of a further embodiment of the venting flue of this invention; and

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the construction of FIG. 4- taken on line 5-5;

FIG. 6 is a pictorial view of a still further embodiment, parts eing broken away, of the vertical vent of the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a transverse sectional view of the construction of FIG. 6 taken on line 77.

This invention comprises an economical means of conducting and venting gases into the upper atmosphere and low cost stack or due means for effecting the same including the erection and maintenance in a substantially vertical position of a flexible or non-rigid chimney-like flue or stack essentially consisting of or constructed from iluid impermeable plastic sheet material such as vinyl or the like common and low cost plastic film or sheets. As will be more apparent from the following description and the drawing, a number of low cost means are available for constructing and effectively supportin and maintaining in a suostantially vertical position the yielding, light weight, tubular fabricated, plastic sheet stacks of this invention, and the optimum means therefor may be selected and utilized in accordance with the needs or requirements of the prevailing conditions of a specific installation.

The terminal due or stack itself which comprises the principal subject of the invention in general comprises a cylindrical or conical or other tubular configuration open at each extremity, formed or fabricated from relatively light weight plastic sheets or light weight, plastic impregnated textiles or fabrics, one opening of which communicates with and is connected in substantially leakproof relationship to an outlet of an evacuating system to convey gaseous fluid therefrom, with the stack body rising upwardly substantially vertically above the system, or the chamber or housing containing the same. The dimensions of the plastic stacks are of course appropriately designed to carry the contemplated volume and velocity of gaseous matter of the particular system and to conduct the same to an elevation beyond any adjacent habitation or to a level wherein no deleterious effects or nuisance would be created in the surrounding area.

The opening at one end of the relatively light weight plastic sheet tube or stack is secured by any suitable means such as tying with a draw cord or band, to the outlet conduit or discharge means of the venting or gas evacuating system, so as to communicate therewith and convey exhaust gases therefrom, without material leakage, and through the stack. The securing means anchor the base of the stack into position, and, upon application of suitable lifting and supporting means, the plastiostack is raised and maintained in a substantially vertical operating position with the opposite opening providing an outlet for the system positioned at a considerable height in the at mosphere. Supplemental anchoring means, as for example appropriate guying or systems thereof, are normally preferred and usually essential to stabilize the flexible, light weight structures when subjected to high wind velocities. Also, one or more ropes, braids, webs, etc. running substantially parallel to the length of the stack and embedded therein or aptly secured thereto either continuously or at spaced intervals as by stitching, tying, bonding, etc, are particularly useful in distributing the pulling and stretching load due to the moving gases, guying, wind and the like forces. Suitable and effective raising and/or supporting means and a number of illusrative examples thereof are set forth hereinafter and include among many useful concepts increased or positive gas pressures and high gas velocity within the light Weight stack, pneumatic or gas inflated bodies or chambers, and ri id supporting structures including conventionally constructed typically skeletal or open-frame towers.

Referring to the drawing to illustrate the invention in greater detail, one species and operation thereof is demonstrated by FIG. 1, representing a pictorial view of the device and a typical setting therefora roof or deck and adjoining wall structure It, as in a factory or commercial building through which a gas exhausting conduit or duct 2 passes, carrying gaseous matter from fan or blower means 3. The outlet conduit or duct 2 is connected with the terminal flue of the evacuating system, to convey gaseous fluid therefrom, by securing the inlet end of plus tic stack thereto in substantially leakproof manner with assays-s7 any suitable means such as draw cord 5. The upper or discharge end of the tubular section of plastic forming the stack 4 is constricted at 6 such as by means of an adjustable draw cord or perr fluently upon fabrication of the stack to effect a pressure increase within the body of the stack when gases are rapidly forced through the same. A system of guy wires '7 are secured to the stack 4 and grounded to the structure it as is conventional to anchor and steady vertical objects.

Suitable positive pressures can be produced within a light weight plastic stack by means of blower or cornpressor 3 in cooperation with the restricted allot of the discharge end of the stack at 6 to raise a light Weight, flexible plastic stack of appreciable dime, sions to a vertical position and then maintain the same. For example, in one installation comprising a plastic stack measuring 4- fcet in diameter and 30 feet in height and comprising a tubular sleeve fabricated by cementing together sections of Dacron polyester fiber (a product trademark of E. I. du Pont de lleznours 'z Co.) reinforced vinyl sheet approximately 0.008 inch in thickness, the effecting of an internal pressure of about 2 inches of water was suii'icient to raise the stack to a vertical position and then maintain it there. And, with two sets of three guy Wires each, one set secured at the it) foot level and the other at the 20 foot level, this stack, with no other support than the internal gas pressure of about 2 inches of water, resisted winds of 20 miles per hour providing an eliective flue vent carrying noxious gaseous matter into the atmosphere well beyond roor level and adjacent habitation.

FIGS. 2 through 7 of the drawing relate to other means of supporting and maintaining the novel stack or chimneylike fine of this invention, with FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrating the use of a conventionally constructed, rigid skeletal or open-frame tower 8 erected from frame member coin ing vertical bars 8, horizontal bars 8", diagonal bracing bars 8', to support the light weight plastic stack 9. Stack 9 is connected in substantially leakproor" manner by suitable means such as draw cord to exhaust gas outlet conduit lit) passing up through roof 11, and is from tower 8 or otherwise supported thereby with appropriate securing means such as straps 12 attached to the plastic stack by bands. One significant advantage of this arrangement is that notwithstanding the cost of the construction of a permanent tower structure, it provides a durable stack which may be conveniently and economically removed for cleaning, or simply replaced at nominal cost.

FIGS, 4 through 7 of the drawing demonstrate selfsupporting stacks of this invention employing gas pressure as the supporting means in a manner which requires very small power expenditures for their maintenance, comprising the use of closed, substantially fluid impervious gas bladderor balloon-like chambers or sections inflated to relatively high pressures of approximately 8 to 15 inches of water and typically about inches of Water. Specifically, FIG. 4 illustrates a scheme comprising an elongated, flexible, fluid impermeable bladder or balloon 13, in direct and substantially leakproof communication with a source of gas pressure such as fan 14, positioned adjacent to or within the plastic flue stack and secured thereto with appropriate connecting supports as shown at 16. The introduction of high gas pressure, as for example about 10 inches of Water, into bladder 13 from fan M- or other source or" gas under pressure, will raise the bladder 13 carrying with it stack 15 and maintain the same in a substantially vertical position. Since the gas impervious bladder or bag 13 is closed to the atmosphere, the gas pressure loss therefrom is slight whereby the power requirements to maintain the pressure within the chamber, once it has been inflated, are relatively small. FIG. 4 and the transverse sectional view of FIG. 5, taken on line of FIG. 4, illustrate the supporting bladder as being positioned with rim in and concentric to plastic stack 15, a preferred although not essential arrangement, providing an annular llue passage intermediate stack 15 and bladder 13 leading from outlet conduit or duct ll.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate still another scheme for a sell -raising and supporting plastic stack employing the same principle of support as the embodiments of FlGS. 4 and 5. The high pressure gas bladder or chamber of this modification however is integrally formed with the stack structure as by employing a double walled tubular stack provided with inner Wall 19 and outer wall 20 forming a supporting closed annular gas chamber 21 communicating with a source of gas pressure as exemplifled. by fan lnner wall 19 is longitudinally secured at spaced intervals as at 23 to prevent the higher pressures in chamber 21 from over-expanding inner wall 19 to the point of obstructing or closing oil gas evacuating ilue channel which is in communication with ventin system conduit 25. The supporting gas pressure er or chamber, moreover, need not be annular in configuration but could consist of one or more independent pressure cells integrally formed within the stack walls 13 and extending substantially the length thereof.

The light weight, flexible stack of this invention comprises principally plastic sheet material either alone or forced with staple fiber, woven or unwoven strands, sci fabric and the like textile materials, or the stack lll; comprise principally light weight textile-like fabrics impregnated with plastics to impart fluid impermeability. The construction means as well as the materials employed in the formation of the plastic stacks are conventional; l or example, the plastic tube-lil-e configuration could be extruded as such but larger diameter stacks are more practically fa'brii .ted by seaming one or more sheets With cement or thermal fusion in the case of thermoplastic materials. Fabric reiniorced stacks may be stitched or secured by other conventional textile methods.

Plastic materials for the practice of this invention may comprise any resinous compositions, including rubber or the rubber-like clastomers, that can be reduced to sheet or film form, or impregnated into a textile. The terms plastic and elastomer are used in their usual and ordinary meaning as defined in page 3i) of Modern Plastics Encyclopedia, 1950. However, regardless of the particular material and/or construction employed, as should be apparent it is desirable to employ a stack of minimum weight, particularly when gas pressure comprises its sole supporting Although the stacks or chimneys or" this invention would not be applicable to all installations such as furnaces or boilers because of the very high flue gas temperatures involved, relatively high temperature resistent stacks or ch neys can be constructed of the more heat resistant textiles and/or plastics such as, for example, asbestos or other mineral fiber and silicone elastomers. For instance, the stacks of this invention can be utilized to carry off hot gases from curing, baking or drying ovens, etc, as they are resistent to many corrosive gases r chemical vapors.

As indicated hereinbefore and as will be apparent to those having an acquaintance with the construction and maintenance or cleaning costs of conventional permanent venting or chimney stacks such as the common brick or steel structures, the principal and decided advantage of this invention is in the low cost of the installation and/or of cleaning or replacement. For example, a reinforced vinyl stack measuring 4 feet in diameter by 40 feet in height provided with polyethylene rope drawstrings in each end and at an intermediate point costs in the order of $100, and a similarly constructed stack of 7 feet diameter by feet in height costs about $200 whereas permanently constructt stacks or chimneys of either brick or steel would run into many thousands of dollars. Such nom inal costs even permit economical replacement of damaged or soil accumulated llue stacks rather than repairing or cleaning the same. In addition to the primary objective of low cost, the flexible, easily raised and maintained stacks of this invention are particularly suitable for temporary installations and/or use in mobile or field installations. Moreover, notwithstanding their limited service life as compared with brick or steel structures, the stacks of this invention perform as eitectively as conventional units and their relatively low cost of only a fraction of that for the stack of conventional construction permits their periodic replacement while maintaining an over-all savings.

, It will be understood that the foregoing details are given for purposes of illustration, not restriction, and that variations within the spirit of this invention are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The method of venting and conveying the gaseous contents of a system to an area of the atmosphere of appreciable height, said method comprising exhausting gaseous matter from the system through conduit means communicating with and connected in substantially leakproof relation to one end portion of a terminal flue comprising a flexible stack of tubular, fluid impermeable, plastic sheet material having a discharge outlet at an opposite end portion, supporting and maintaining said flexible plastic stack in a generally vertical extending relation with the discharged outlet elevated upwardly to an appreciable height by internal positive gas pressure, and conveying the exhausted gaseous matter upwardly through the terminal flue comprising the generally vertical flexible stack and discharging the exhausted gaseous matter into the upper atmosphere.

2. The method of venting and conveying the gaseous contents of a system to an area of the atmosphere of appreciable height, said method comprising exhausting gaseous matter from the system through conduit means communicating with and connected with substantially leakproof relation to one end portion of a terminal flue comprising a flexible stack of tubular, fluid impermeable, plastic sheet material having a discharge outlet at an opposite end portion, providing positive gas pressure within and effective against a wall of the plastic stack and thereby supporting and maintaining said flexible plastic stack in a generally vertical extending relation with the discharge outlet elevated upwardly to appreciable height, and conveying the exhausted gaseous matter upwardly through the terminal flue comprising the generally vertical flexible stack and discharging the exhausted gaseous matter into the upper atmosphere.

3. The method of venting and conveying the gaseous contents of a system to an area of the atmosphere of appreciable height, said method comprising exhausting gaseous matter from the system through conduit means communicating with and connected in substantially leakproof relation to one end portion of a terminal flue comprising a flexible stack of tubular, fluid impermeable, plastic sheet material having a discharge outlet at an opposite end portion, providing positive gas pressure of at least about 2 inches of water within and effective against a wall of the plastic stack and thereby supporting and maintaining said flexible plastic stack in a generally vertical extending relation with the discharge outlet elevated upwardly to appreciable height, and conveying the exhausted gaseous matter upwardly through the terminal flue comprising the generally vertical flexible stack and discharging the exhausted gaseous matter into the upper atmosphere.

4. The method of venting and conveying the gaseous contents of a system to an area of the atmosphere of appreciable height, said method comprising exhausting gaseous matter from the system through conduit means communicating with and connected in substantially leakproof relation to one end portion of a terminal flue comprising a flexible stack of tubular, fluid impermeable, plastic sheet materal having a discharge outlet at an opposite end portion, supporting and maintaining the flexible stack in a generally vertical extending relation with the discharge outlet elevated upwardly to appreciable height comprising providing the said flexible stack with an inflated elongated bladder of fluid impermeable plastic sheet materal having an internal gas pressure of at least about 8 inches of water and conveying the exhausted gaseous matter upwardly through the terminal flue comprising the generally vertical flexible stack and discharging the exhausted gaseous matter into the upper atmosphere.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the supporting and maintaining pressurized bladder means of fluid impermeable plastic sheet material is an independent body supportingly secured to the plastic stack.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the supporting and maintaining pressurized bladder means of fluid impermeable plastic sheet material is integrally formed with the plastic stack.

7. A system for venting gaseous matter comprising conduit means for conveying gaseous matter, a terminal flue communicating with and connected at one end portion in substantially leakproof relation with the conduit means and forming a generally vertical extending stack provided with a discharge outlet at an upwardly elevated opposite end portion to convey the gaseous matter from the conduit means upwardly therethrough and vent the same from the upwardly elevated discharge outlet into an area of the atmosphere of appreciable height, the improvement comprising the said generally vertical extending flexible stack forming the terminal flue being constructed of fluid impermeable, plastic sheet material and being supported and maintained in the generally vertical extending position by internal positive gas pressure.

3. A system for venting gaseous matter comprising conduit means for conveying gaseous matter, a terminal flue communicating with and connected at one end portion in substantially leakproof relation with the conduit means forming a generally vertical extending stack provided with a discharge outlet at an upwardly elevated opposite end portion to convey the gaseous matter from the conduit means upwardly therethrough and vent the same from the upwardly elevated discharge outlet into an area of the atmosphere of appreciable height, the improvement consisting of the said generally vertical extending flexible stack forming the terminal flue being constructed of fluid impermeable, plastic sheet material and with the upwardly elevated discharge outlet restricted and providing an internal positive gas pressure of at least about 2 inches of water and thereby supporting and maintaining the flexible stack in the generally vertical extending position.

9. A system for venting gaseous matter comprising conduit means for conveying gaseous matter, a terminal flue communicating with and connected at one end portion in substantially leakproof relation with the conduit means and forming a generally vertical extending stack provided with a discharge outlet at an upwardly elevated opposite end portion to convey the gaseous matter from the conduit means upwardly therethrough and vent the same from the upwardly elevated discharge outlet into an area of the atmosphere of appreciable height, the improvement consisting of the said generally vertical extending flexible stack forming the terminal flue being constructed of fluid impermeable, plastic sheet material which is provided with and supported and maintained in the generally vertical extending position by an adjacently positioned elongated pressurized bladder of fluid impermeable, plastic sheet material containing an internal gas pressure of at least about 8 inches of water.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the supporting and maintaining bladder or" fluid impermeable, plastic sheet material is approximately concentrically positioned within the plastic stack and is of substantially reduced diameter from that of the surrounding stack.

11. A system for venting gaseous matter comprising conduit means for conveying gaseous matter, a terminal flue communicating with and connected at one end portion in substantially leakproof relation with the conduit means and forming a generally vertical extending stack provided With a discharge outlet at an upwardly elevated opposite end portion to convey the gaseous matter from the conduit means upwardly therethrough and vent the same from the upwardly elevated discharge outlet into an area of the atmosphere of appreciable height, the improvement consisting of the said generally vertical extending flexible stack forming the terminal flue being constructed of fluid impermeable, plastic sheet material which is provided with and supported and maintained in the generally vertical extending position by an integrally formed elongated pressurized bladder of fluid impermeable, plastic sheet material containing an internal gas pressure of at least about 8 inches of water.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the supporting and maintaining bladder of fluid impermeable plastic sheet material comprises an annular pressurized chamber one Wall of which comprises the flue of the plastic stack.

J in References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Conner 126-397 Lalonde 138-111 Spackman 126-110 Little 98-68 Bingham.

Roberts 138-111 Sexton 138-111 Clark.

Grott.

FOREIGN PATENTS FREDERICK L. MATTESON, JR. Primary Examiner.

JAMES W. WESTHAVER, Examiner. 

1. THE METHOD OF VENTING AND CONVEYING THE GASEOUS CONTENTS OF A SYSTEM TO AN AREA OF THE ATMOSPHERE OF APPRECIABLE HEIGHT, SAID METHOD COMPRISING EXHAUSTING GASEOUS MATTER FORM THE SYSTEM THROUGH CONDUIT MEANS COMMUNICATING WITH AND CONNECTED IN SUBSTANTIALLY LEAKPROOF RELATION TO ONE END PORTION OF A TERMINAL FLUE COMPRISING A FLEXIBLE STACK OF TUBULAR, FLUID IMPERMEABLE, PLASTIC SHEET MATERIAL HAVING A DISCHARGE OUTLET AT AN OPPOSITE END PORTION, SUPPORTING AND MAINTAINING SAID FLEXIBLE PLASTIC STACK IN A GENERALLY VERTICAL EXTENDING RELATION WITH THE DISCHARGED OUTLET ELEVATED UPWARDLY TO AN APPRECIABLE HEIGHT BY INTERNAL POSITIVE GAS PRESSURE, AND CONVEYING THE EXHAUSTED GASEOUS MATTER UPWARDLY THROUGH THE TERMINAL FLUE COMPRISING THE GENERALLY VERTICAL FLEXIBLE STACK AND DISCHARGING THE EXHAUSTED GASEOUS MATTER INTO THE UPPER ATMOSPHERE. 